Solicitor vs. Lawyer: What's the Difference?
Table of Contents
Main Difference
The main difference between Solicitor and Lawyer is that the Solicitor is a type of legal practitioner and Lawyer is a legal professional who helps clients and represents them in a court of law
Solicitor
A solicitor is a legal practitioner who traditionally deals with most of the legal matters in some jurisdictions. A person must have legally-defined qualifications, which vary from one jurisdiction to another, to be described as a solicitor and enabled to practise there as such. For example, in England and Wales a solicitor is admitted to practise under the provisions of the Solicitors Act 1974. With some exceptions, practising solicitors must possess a practising certificate. There are many more solicitors than barristers in England; they undertake the general aspects of giving legal advice and conducting legal proceedings.In the jurisdictions of England and Wales and in Northern Ireland, in a few Australian states, Hong Kong, South Africa (where they are called attorneys) and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers (called advocates in some countries, for example Scotland), and a lawyer will usually only hold one of the two titles. However, in Canada, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and most Australian states, the legal profession is now for practical purposes “fused”, allowing lawyers to hold the title of “barrister and solicitor” and practise as both. Some legal graduates will start off as one and then also qualify as the other.
Lawyer
A lawyer or attorney is a person who practices law, as an advocate, attorney, attorney at law, barrister, barrister-at-law, bar-at-law, counsel, counselor, counsellor, counselor at law, or solicitor, but not as a paralegal or charter executive secretary. Working as a lawyer involves the practical application of abstract legal theories and knowledge to solve specific individualized problems, or to advance the interests of those who hire lawyers to perform legal services.
The role of the lawyer varies greatly across legal jurisdictions, and so it can be treated here in only the most general terms.
Solicitor (noun)
One who solicits.
Solicitor (noun)
In many common law jurisdictions, a type of lawyer whose traditional role is to offer legal services to clients apart from acting as their advocate in court. A solicitor instructs a barrister to act as an advocate for their client in court, although rights of audience for solicitors vary according to jurisdiction.
Solicitor (noun)
In English Canada and in parts of Australia, a type of lawyer who historically held the same role as above, but whose role has in modern times been merged with that of a barrister.
Solicitor (noun)
In parts of the U.S., the chief legal officer of a city, town or other jurisdiction.
Solicitor (noun)
A person soliciting sales, especially door to door.
Lawyer (noun)
A professional person qualified (as by a law degree and/or bar exam) and authorized to practice law, i.e. conduct lawsuits and/or give legal advice.
Lawyer (noun)
By extension, a legal layman who argues points of law.
Lawyer (noun)
The burbot
Lawyer (verb)
To practice law.
Lawyer (verb)
To perform, or attempt to perform, the work of a lawyer.
Lawyer (verb)
To make legalistic arguments.
Lawyer (verb)
To barrage (a person) with questions in order to get them to admit something.
“You’ve been lawyered!”
Solicitor (noun)
a member of the legal profession qualified to deal with conveyancing, the drawing up of wills, and other legal matters. A solicitor may also instruct barristers and represent clients in some courts.
Solicitor (noun)
the chief law officer of a city, town, or government department.
Solicitor (noun)
a person who tries to obtain business orders, advertising, etc.; a canvasser
“she had been a telephone solicitor for a Chicago newspaper”
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